Stage lift flowing device



Aug. E8, `1931. A. BoYNToN STAGE LIFT FLowING DEVICE Filed Deo. 10, 1926 Q2/9.1. Q-l. 9:. v

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Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES ALEXANDER IBOYNTON, OF SAN ANTNIO, TEXAS STAGE LIFT rLowINe DEVICE Application led December 10, 1926. Serial No. 158,947.

This invention relates to ystage lift flowing devices especially adapted for use in wells. Briefly stated, an important object is to provide reliable and efficient means to bring the oil or other Huid ina well to the surface without the aid of a reciprocating pump and associated parts known to have high first and maintenance costs.

A further and equally important object v is to provide a stage lift flowing device having means to conserve the gas and to utilize the gas in the production of oil.

Another aim is to provide an induction valve for stage lift iowing devices having V simple means whereby the same may be quickly adjusted at the well 4or elsewhere to regulate the closing olf point of thesame for use under different conditions. Y A further object is to provide a stage lift V flowing device which is of highly simplified construction and which maybe installed in a well without special preparation and which may be operated by those of limited y mechanical knowledge.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description. 4

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and i`n ywhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figures 1 and 1A are detail sectional views through a well equipped with the improved fluid control device.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view through the device. K n In the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a `casing through which a tubing 8 1s eX- tended. Y

Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the tubing 8 has a number of inlet valves 9 placed therein for the admission of alifting luidsuch as compressed air or natural gas from the Well or from another well.

At the lower portion of the tubing a suitable number of lengths of pipe may be employed to define a settling chamber 10 for the reception of mud and other heavy sediment. The sediment chamber 10 may, of courseybe 'of any suitable internal diameter and the lower end of thesalne is closed by a cap 11. When the tubing is withdrawn for the purpose of inspection .orrepair it is a simple matter to remove the mud etcetera within the sediment chamber 10.

Each induction valve 9 has a flow passage 12 of the lsame diameter and crosssectional formation as the bore of the tubing to provide an even and smooth passage for the alternate slugs of oil and compressed lifting fluidi.

Returning to a consideration of Figure 3, it `will be seen that each inlet valve 9 has a valve chamber 17 in communication therewith through longitudinal and transverse communicating passages 18 and 20, re-

spectively'. The lowerend of the passage 18 is in the nature of a valve seat 22 for contact with the tapered valve head 24 on the upper end of a spiral body 26.' When the valve head 24 is in en agement with the seat 22 the admission og a compressed fluid by way of the valve chamber 17 to the tubing is prevented.

In carrying out the invention, the lower portion of the spiral body 26 is provided with a second valve head 28 for engagement with the seat on the upper end of an inlet sleeve 30. The inlet sleeve is merely screwed into the lower open end ofthe valve chamber -17 and the central opening of the same admits compressed gas or air from the casing. The cored-out section 32 at the lower portion ofthe valve chamber 17 is merely to provide a convenient starting place to either drill or ream the valve chamber. In manu facture a finishing cut should be made in the valve chamber 17 by a sharp drill and the terminal of the drill employed to form the valve seat 22.

The passage 18 is made small enoughin diameter to permitlthe valve seat 22 to have a generous area for contact by the valve head 24 to positively cut off the admission of compressed gas or air when the valve body26 is fully elevated as will be described. However, the passa 18 is of sufficient diameter to allow o the passage of compressed gas or air without excessive friction. The passage 20 and the passage inthe inlet the vane and the wall of the chamber. The

elongated vane 26 also insures true axial seating of the heads 24 and 28. In addition to the two foregoing separate 4and distinct functions of the vane 26, it will be,

found that the nether side of the vane is directly in thepath of the lifting {iuidandv is responsive to the ressure thereof to control the positions of) the heads 24 and 28. Thus, the vane serves three separate and distinct functions.

With further reference to the passage 20 it will be seen that the outer portion of the same is somewhat greater in diameter than the passage 18 to assure the complete intersection ofthe passage 18 whenthe outlet 20 is being drilled. Were the passage 20 fonly slightly greater in diameter than the diameter ofthe passage 18,-the drill which forms the hole or passage 20 might not completely intersect the passage 18. This would result in a stricture. The outer portion of the passage 20 is closed by a plug 34, which is accessible for adjustment to vary the seal-i ing off point of the valve.

It is plainl shown in Figure 2 that the plug 34 may e screwed in to extend partly across the passage 18 and thereby reduce the volume of lifting fluid which may be admitted to the flowpassage 12. On the other hand by retracting the plug 34 an increased volume of compressed lifting fluid may be admitted to the flow passage. This provides for the adjustment of the induetion valve for use in wells of dierent depths and'pumping fluids of different characters. That adjustment may be made at the well or elsewhere is clear.

In the installation of the improved stage lift iowing,device-, one of the Valves for the compressed lifting fluid may be placed approximately 450 feet from the surface and fro\m 450 feet down to about 1050 feet one valve may be placed at every 120 feet. From 1050 feet to 1450- feet the valves may be approximately 100 feet apart.` VFrom 1450 feet to 1690 feet the valves may be advantageously be 80 feet apart and below 1690 feet the valves may be spaced approximately`60 feetfrom each other. y

Below the, inlet valves for the compressed Huid a-check valvev40 may be located to retain in the tubing that oil that may not have been blown out in the flowing process. It is important to note that when the valve heads 28 are seated the same cooperate with the check valve 40 in retaining the oil in the tubing. Necessarily some oil will settle hack after a well has flowed, unless an unnecessary amount of gas is wasted to perfectly clean the tubing. There is no reason` why oil should be allowed to settle back into the well exteriorly of the tubing and build up a back pressure against the sands seeking to discharge oil into the well. For that reason the check valve 40 is employed.

The oil enters the tubing by way of the inlet 50 and the inlets 51 forty or sixty feet below and as the level of oil in the tubing is about 300 feet above the level of the oil in the casing depending, of course, on the air or gas pressure, several valves will be exposed to permit of the admission of compressed air or gas to the tubing at a point below the level of oil therein.l The hlghly compressed fiuid which enters by way of the passage 17 does not expand until it enters the tubing and rises somewhat; and it is this expansion and consequent pressure which is relied on to bring the oil above to the surface. The compressed fluid will not during its passage through the valve chamber 17 partake of expansion. This is true because of the resistance resulting from theA presence ofthe higher column of oil in thel tubing.

When the level of oil in the tubing drops below a particular valve, the free inrush of air or gas by way of the passage .17 will result in the expansion of the air or gas in the passage 17 with the result that the spiral body 26 will be moved from a slightly elevated position to a completely elevated position to close the passage 18. in other words,

so long as the level of fluid is above a parpressed fluid and when the fluid drops below Y a particular inlet valve the valve head 24 is immediately seated to cut off the admission of additional compressed air or gas through that valve.

The spiral body 26 has a free working fit within the passage 17, but the valve heads 24 and 28 are somewhat less in diameter thanthe diameter of the passage 17 to allow of the free passage of air or gas into the tubing. The contact of the compressed lifting Huid with the spiral body will cause the spiral body to rapidly rotate with the result that: the valve seats at opposite ends of the chamber 17 and the valve headsl are kept ground in at all times. Sufficient sand is present inthe well to supply the necessary grinding compound.

Every movement of compressed air or gas,

ing the valves properly seated until completely worn out. The spiral body 26 is heavy enough to avoid the danger of sticking and the centrifugal force resulting from the rapid turning of the valve keeps the spiral body and the attached valve heads clean. Herein resides one of the advantages of a spiral valve body over a ball valve. Centrifugal force tends to clean a ball valve only partially, both poles of the axis of a ball being comparatively stationary and, therefore, unground at such points. For this reason a ball valve soon wears into somewhat of an elliptical form and unfit for completely effecting a good seal.

In operation a high-ly compressed lifting y fluid is introduced into the casing and should it be that the oil within the tubing extends to within four or live hundred feet of the surface the uppermost valve may be relied on to admit sufficient compressed fluid to blow the oil above the same to the surface.

As the level of oil drops additional valves come into play and the rapid rush of air or gas through a particular valve chamber 17, due to the drop in the level of oil in the tubing, will result in the movement of the valve head 24 to closed position to render that valve temporarily inoperative. This action, however, never occurs until the fluid level in the well has been lowered to a point where at least the next valve is exposed.

Compressed air or gas then enters at the lowermost exposed valve until the oil above that valve has been blown out through the tubing. The next valve below has then become exposed by the drop of the level of the fluid within the casing exteriorly of the tubing and that valve will come into play.

,fg-Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a fluid control device for use in Wells, a body having means whereby the same may be incorporated in a well tubing and being provided with a chamber for the passage of a lifting iuidsaid chamber being provided with upper and lower ports and cone-shaped seats in association with said ports, a valve movable between said seats and having upper and lower separate heads tapered to correspond to the conicity of said seats and adapted to engage said seats, said valve being provided with a spiral connecting portion between said tapered heads and having one surface thereof in the path of travel of the fluid and having the edge thereof in movable engagement with the wall of the chamber to guide said tapered heads into sealing engagement with said cone-shaped seats whereby to fully close either of said ports, the length of said chamber being substantially greater than the length of said'valve.

2. In a fluid control device for use in wells, a body having means whereby the same may be connected to a well tubing and being provided with a vertically disposed chamber for the passage of a lifting fluid, said chamber being provided with a lower inlet port and an upper outlet port and with coneshaped seats in association with said ports, a valve in said vertical chamber and having the opposite ends Vthereof provided with separate tapered heads corresponding to the conicity of said seats and adapted to engage the seats to control the flow of fluid through said ports, said valve being provided with an elongated spiral connecting portion having the lower face thereof in the path of travel of and exposed to the pressure of the lifting fluid entering by way of said inlet port, said spiral connecting portion having the upper surface thereof exposed to the pressure prevailing in said outlet port whereby the valve is responsive to the pressure differential between the fluids in said inlet and said outlet ports, the edge of said spiral connecting portion being in movable engagement with the wall of the chamber to guide the valve vheads to. seated position.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

ALEXANDER BOYN^TON 

